Making WAVES: Pioneering Women in the U.S. Navy During World War II

Remembrance and Records: World War II Through Archival Collections

Published Mar 20, 2025 by
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Over the next year, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Joyner Library Special Collections will be highlighting items from the East Carolina Manuscripts Collection that relate to the conflict and the individuals who served.

During World War II, the United States military recognized the need for additional personnel to support the war effort. With thousands of men deployed overseas, the armed forces turned to women to fill essential roles. One of the most significant contributions of women to the war effort came through establishing the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, commonly referred to as WAVES, program in the U.S. Navy. This initiative not only provided crucial support during the war but also paved the way for the expanded role of women in the military in the decades that followed.

Origins and Formation of WAVES

Before the United States entered World War II, women had limited opportunities to serve in the military outside of nursing roles. However, as the war intensified and manpower shortages became evident, the government began to explore ways to integrate women into the armed forces. The success of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in early 1942 demonstrated that women could play a vital role in military operations.

The WAVES program was formally established on July 30, 1942, with the signing of the Navy Women’s Reserve Act by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This act allowed women to serve in the U.S. Navy in non-combat roles. Under the leadership of Mildred H. McAfee, the first director of WAVES and the first woman commissioned as a naval officer, the program quickly took shape and began recruiting women across the country.

Recruitment and Training

The WAVES program sought educated and skilled women to fill a wide range of roles. Initially, eligibility requirements stipulated that women had to be between the ages of 20

Activities of the Waves, Spars and the MCWR at the Naval Reserve Midshipmen’s School Northampton, Mass, 1943-1944. Item from Ellen Zukunft McGrew Papers (#723), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

and 49, hold U.S. citizenship and possess at least two years of college education for officer candidates. Enlisted women must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Training for WAVES officers took place at Smith College in Massachusetts, where women underwent rigorous instruction in naval procedures, leadership, and specialized technical skills. Enlisted women trained at various naval stations across the country, including the Bronx campus of Hunter College in New York. The training regimen was designed to prepare women for service in administrative, medical, aviation, communications, intelligence, and logistical support roles.

Roles and Contributions

WAVES personnel took on a wide range of responsibilities within the Navy, proving their capabilities across many professional fields. Some of the most common roles included:

  • Clerical and Administrative Work: Many WAVES served as yeomen, handling paperwork, managing personnel records, and ensuring efficient office operations.
  • Communications and Intelligence: Women played key roles as cryptographers, radio operators, and translators, helping to decode enemy messages and maintain secure naval communications.
  • Medical and Scientific Roles: WAVES nurses, pharmacists, and lab technicians provided essential healthcare services to wounded sailors and conducted medical research.
  • Aviation Support: Women worked as aerographers, air traffic controllers, and aircraft mechanics, supporting naval aviation efforts.
  • Educational and Training Roles: Some WAVES served as instructors, training naval personnel in various skills, including navigation, gunnery, and engineering.

Despite their valuable contributions, WAVES members were restricted to non-combat roles and were not permitted to serve aboard combat ships or aircraft. However, their work freed up thousands of men for frontline duty, significantly bolstering the Navy’s operational capacity.

WAVES Records in the East Carolina Manuscript Collection

Portrait of Ellen Zukunft McGrew as a United States Naval Reserve (USNR) Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) officer, 1942-1946. Image from the Ellen Zukunft McGrew Papers (#723), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

The East Carolina Manuscript Collection has a number of collections pertaining to remarkable women who served in WAVES. One such collection is the Ellen Zukunft McGrew Papers (ECMC #0723). Born in 1919 in Portland, Maine, Ellen Zukunft McGrew completed three years of college and worked as an x-ray technician before joining WAVES in 1942. She underwent naval training in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland from 1942 to 1943.

In 1943, McGrew was commissioned as an ensign and was assigned to the 6th United States Naval Reserve District Headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina. She later served at the Naval Training Center in Sampson, New York. McGrew resigned her commission in 1946 but remained in the Naval Reserves until 1957, continuing to contribute to military readiness and medical services. Her dedication and service exemplify the essential roles WAVES members played in supporting the war effort and the post-war Navy.

Another notable collection related to the WAVES organization is the Martha Evelyn Donaldson Papers (ECMC #0517). Martha Evelyn Donaldson was born in 1900 in Lima, Ohio, and raised in Jackson, Michigan. The daughter of a U.S. Army veteran, Donaldson pursued higher education at Oberlin College and later at Columbia University, earning multiple degrees. Before joining the Navy, Donaldson worked as a children’s and reference librarian, taught English and history, and served as a Red Cross Volunteer Motor Corps driver.

Determined to contribute to the war effort, Donaldson enlisted in WAVES on August 22, 1942, just before her 42nd birthday. She received a commission as a Lieutenant Junior Grade and trained at Smith College with the first group of twenty-seven WAVES. She began her service at the Naval Training School at Indiana University before transferring to Glynco, Georgia, where she served as Assistant Supply Officer and Assistant Ships Service Officer and established a 3,000-volume library.

From July 1943 to June 1945, Donaldson was stationed at the Headquarters of the Third Naval District in New York, serving as an assistant to the Commander for Operations and later in the Office of the Port Director. After the war, she was honorably released from active duty in January 1946 but continued her service in the Naval Reserves. Over the years, she worked to establish training programs for Inactive Volunteer Reservists, commanded a Volunteer Composite Unit, and participated in various Mobilization Drill Teams. Donaldson rose through the ranks, earning promotions to Lieutenant Commander in 1948 and Commander in 1955.

Challenges and Overcoming Barriers

Although WAVES was a groundbreaking program, it was not without challenges. Women in the Navy faced skepticism and resistance from some male colleagues who doubted their abilities, forcing women to work twice as hard to prove themselves in their roles.

Additionally, restrictive policies limited the opportunities available to women of color. Initially, WAVES was an all-white organization due to segregationist policies. It was not until 1944, following pressure from civil rights organizations and advocates, that the Navy began accepting African American women into the program. Despite these obstacles, those who joined WAVES performed their duties with distinction.

Impact and Legacy

By the end of World War II, more than 86,000 women had served in WAVES, making an indelible impact on the U.S. Navy and the broader war effort. Their service proved that women were fully capable of performing military duties outside of traditional nursing roles, challenging long-standing norms.

The success of WAVES contributed to the eventual integration of women into the regular armed forces. In 1948, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act allowed women to serve as permanent, regular members of the military, rather than only in emergency wartime capacities. This legislation was a direct result of the contributions made by WAVES and other women’s service organizations during World War II.

Conclusion

The WAVES program was a revolutionary step in the history of women’s military service. Through their dedication, professionalism, and hard work, the women of WAVES not only helped the U.S. Navy achieve victory in World War II but also laid the foundation for future generations of women in the military. Their legacy continues to inspire women serving in the armed forces today.

Visit the Ship’s Log to learn more about materials related to World War II that are a part of the East Carolina Manuscripts Collection’s holdings. Joyner Library Special Collections will be displaying an exhibit of items and individual stories related to World War II during the summer and fall of 2025.

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